IllustrationI WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE INDICATOR LEVER GEAR.
1988 Oldsmobile 98
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 98 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reportsPOWER ANTENNA FAILURE CAUSES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HEAT GENERATED BY THE UNIT WHILE THE STRIPPED GEAR SPINS OUT OF CONTROL IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY.
FEELS AND HEARS A BUZZING SOUND WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING DRY WEATHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 20 TIMES. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM PULSATES, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER OCCASIONALLY. *DH
FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION. TT
THE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN, IT IS THE RACK AND PINION . *AK
WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKES ENGAGE BUT GO TO THE FLOOR CONTINUOUSLY. *AK
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING, DEALER SAID DUE TO FLUID BEING BURNT, REPLACE STEERING RACK 2 TIMES. TT
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. *SKD
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes
Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA88031 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Apr 22, 1988 · Closed Oct 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.INVESTIGATION ISCONTINUING.===